From the film Guide, with lyrics penned by Shailendra, this balmy gem of a song is truly one of the masterpieces woven by the adakari of Mohd. Rafi and the brilliant composition by S D Burman. Presented in all its glory here, with the picturization on Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman.

The trio of SD Burman – Mohd. Rafi – Dev Anand gave us several of the classic songs – from films like Bambai ka Babu, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Guide and Jewel Thief. One of the gems that S D Burman composed was given voice by Mohd. Rafi in the film Teen Deviyaan.

Of late, it has been all rock and pop and fusion – mostly plagiarisms ruling the Indian film music industry. Gone are the days when film music was based on Indian classical music – either Hindustani or the Carnatic variety. In today’s post we’ll listen to two raga-based songs which had captured the imagination of the nation during the period when they were released.

Both these songs are based on the raga Sohini, of the thaat Marwaa. It is a pre-dawn raga, to be performed between 2am – 4am, and is said to be the favorite of Akbar and Man Singh.

The first song is from the film Swarna Sundari, a 1957 remake of the Telugu film Suvarna Sundari. What is interesting to note about this song is that its four verses are based on four different ragas. One of these is Sohini, the others are Bahaar (thaat: Asavari) , Jaunpuri (thaat: Asavari) and Yaman (thaat: Kalyan).

Evergreen hero Dev Anand and playback singer Mohd. Rafi had a very successful team with several hits. One of the classics from the film Hum Dono (1961) is this song – a duet by Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhonsle.